Ventilated seat and cover assembly for toilet bowls



W. GUDISH Dec. 27, 1955 VENTILATED SEAT AND COVER ASSEMBLY FOR TOILET BOWLS Filed May 27, 1953 WILLIAM GUD/SH ATTORNEK United States Patent fiiee 2,728,088 Patented Dec. 27, 1955 VENTILATED SEAT AND COVER ASSENTBLY FOR TOILET BOWLS William Gudish, Los Angeles, Calif. Application May 27, 1953, Serial No. 357,898

4 Claims. (Cl. 4217) This invention relates to an improved ventilation means for toilet bowls and more partciularly to seat and cover means capable of being substituted for a conventional seat and cover of present day toilet bowls, together with an exhaust means for effectively and efficiently removing all objectionable odors from the bowl.

It has been previously proposed to supply exhaust means with toilet bowls either by initially forming the bowl proper with some passage means for exhausting air therefrom or by forming the bowl with means for mounting thereto a particular seat and cover mechanism which included means for withdrawing odors through passages formed in the seat.

These prior proposals have been expensive to manufacture and install. In many instances, diffculty has been experienced in keeping the same in proper working condition. To obviate this difiiculty and others, seat and cover mechanisms have also been proposed which did not require a special bowl assembly or any modification of an existing bowl. Although the seat and cover mechanism of such proposals was so formed as to be mountable to an existing or conventional toilet bowl, they were unsightly and detracted from the appearance of modern baths. Furthermore such of the prior proposals as could be mounted to a conventional bowl were not conveniently mountable in some toilet bowl installations and the range of installations with which they could be used was limited.

The seat and cover mechanism of the present invention does not require a particular bowl structure nor does it require any modification of an existing bowl structure.

The mechanism thus can be mounted by the same means as used today to mount conventional seats and covers of present day toilet bowls.

The seat is formed as a hollow member providing an annular passage and having a plurality of openings in the lower face thereof which communicate with the internally formed passage. The seat member is mounted for pivotal movement by means of a hinge, as conventional seats are today, but the hinge pin, which mounts the seat for its pivotal movement, is in the form of a hollow perforated tube. This tube, as will appear, also forms an exhaust manifold into which objectionable odors are drawn from the bowl itself by some suitable exhaust means.

The hollow hinge pin is rotatably carried by bracket means which are mountable to the toilet bowl by the means used today to mount conventional seat and cover structures. The means used to mount the brackets, which support the hollow hinge pin, also are operative to lock the hinge pin in any desired position of rotative adjustment necessary for a particular installation. This, as will be more clearly explained, greatly simplifies the installation of the device of the present invention.

The cover is mounted for pivotal movement relative to the seat in a manner somewhat similar to conventional seat and cover structures except that in the device of the present invention the cover is mounted on a bracket-like element cast as an integral part of the seat. There are no exposed metal hinge parts which can become discolored by rust or oxidation and the seat and cover of the present device presents a very pleasing and modern design.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, particularly when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Figure '1 is a perspective view of a conventional toilet bowl and water tank having mounted thereto the ventilation device of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale of the combined hinge and exhaust manifold of the present invention;

Figure 3 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation of the seat of the present invention shown mounted to the hollow hinge pin which forms the exhaust manifold;

Figure 4 is a section taken along line 4-4 of Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a section taken along line 5-5 of Figure 3.

The ventilation device of the present invention, referring now to the drawing and more particularly to Figure l, is adapted to be mounted to a conventional toilet bowl 10 having a water tank 11 connected to the bowl through the usual connecting conduit 12. Where it is desired to install the ventilation device of the present invention to an existing toilet bowl, the usual seat and cover secured to the bowl by bolts passed through openings 13 in the rim of the bowl are first removed. The seat and cover mechanism of the present invention is fixed to the bowl by passing threaded studs 14 through the holes 13 and engaging the upper ends of the studs 14, as clearly shown in Figure 5, in tapped openings formed in bracket elements 15 and 16.

The bracket element 16 is in the form of a cap-like member and includes a cylindrical socket for receiving the one end of a cylindrical tube 17. The bracket 16 also closes the open end of the tube and the latter is anchored therein and held against rotation by any means desired. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, however, the tube is anchored in the socket of the bracket element 16 by threading the one stud 14 against the tube to thereby clamp the tube against the wall of the socket opposite to the tapped opening of the bracket member 16.

The bracket element 15 comprises an annular member having an inner diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the tube 17. Here again the tube can be anchored to the bracket 15 by threading the stud 14 into the bracket to clamp the tube 17 against the one internal wall of the bracket.

The tube 17 performs a dual function in the device and in its one function it serves as hinge pin for the seat member 18. The seat member, as best shown in Figure 3, is hollow and terminates at the normally rear edge in an enlarged integral lug 19 having formed in the opposite edge faces thereof aligned openings, circular in cross section, for passing the tube 17. The cylindrical walls of the circular openings form bearing members for rotatably supporting the seat 18 on the tube 17.

The lug 19 is formed also as a hollow element and the interior thereof communicates, again as best seen in Figure 3, with interior of the hollow seat member 18. The tube 17 forming the hinge pin for the pivotal mounting of the seat is preformed with a plurality of apertures 21 so that the interior of the tube 17 communicates by way of these apertures with the interior of the lug 19 which, it will be remembered, communicates with the interior of the seat 18. It will thus be seen that the tube forms an exhaust manifold flow connected with the interior of the seat member 18.

The underface of the seat 18 is formed with an annular series of closely spaced apertures 22' which open into the interior of the seat member and thus form inlet ports surrounding the rim of the bowl 1t) and through which air and objectionable odors may be drawn into the seat memher by means of some suitable exhaust or suction fan means as will be hereinafter explained.

It will be seen, referring now to Figure 5 of the drawing, that the tube 17 is formed with a laterally extending branch 23 which, when the ventilation means of the present invention is installed with a toilet bowl, is fiow connected with a conduit 24 which leads to an exhaust or suction fan 25. The fan may be mounted in some convenient location either under the floor on which the bowl rests or between the wallsbehind the water tank 11.

One of the features of the present invention is the range of placement of the exhaust or suction fan to be used. As will appear, neither the cover nor its mounting means in any way restricts the placement of the fan and the latter may be placed in any desired location convenient to the toilet bowl. This feature is had through the particular construction used for mounting the tube 17 which forms, as above explained, the hinge pin for the seat and also has an exhaust manifold into which air and objectionable odors are discharged from the seat 18 after they have been drawn thereinto through the spaced apertures 22. As the tube 17 is rotatably mounted in its supporting brackets, the same may be easily adjusted, before it is anchored, to conform with the requirements of a particular installation.

For example,if it is found more convenient to mount the exhaust fan on the floor joists under the toilet bowl 10, the tube 17, after the seat member 13 has been mounted thereto as above explained, can be rotatably adjusted to dispose the branch 23 in a vertical position relative to the floor on which the bowl rests. Once the tube has been adjusted to this desired position, the studs 14 may be threaded into the tapped apertures formed in the brackets 15 and 16 to anchor the tube in the desired position relative to the bracket elements 15 and 16. After the tube has been clamped in the desired position, conventional nuts 26 can be threaded onto the lower ends of the studs 14 to clamp the brackets 15 and 16 against the top wall of the rim of the bowl it The conduit 2 may then be mounted to the free end of the branch 23 after which the conduit isspassed through an opening formed in the fioor adjacent the lower edge of t e owl and lead to the exhaust port of the fan 25.

If it is found, for example, in another installation that it is more convenient and more eiileient to locate the exhaust fan between the walls to the rear of the water tank '11 so that the fan may be connected to the ordinary flue pipe or vent of the toilet, it is only necessmy to rotate the tube 17 until the branch 23 is in the required angular relationship to permit the connection of the conduit 24 in this particular installation of the device.

It should now be seen that the tube 17 can be very easily adjusted to dispose the branch 23 in any one of a large number of angular positions relative to the bowl 10 to meet a large and varied range of installations of the exhaust fan 25. Also this feature permits installations where either toilet bowl or water tank constructions have heretofore interfered with the vent or connection between the seat and the fan.

The seat 18 is exteriorly formed with a pair of spaced webs or flanges 2'7 which extend rearwardly and merge with the exterior surface of the lug 3.9 as best shown in Figure 2. The webs 27 are formed with aligned apertures 28 only one of which is shown in Figure 2, for receiving the opposite ends of a pin 29 mountable in a projection 31 formed as an integral part of the cover member 32.

To mount the cover 32 to the webs '27 the projection 31 is disposed between the webs as shown in Figure 2, after which the pin 29 is passed through the openings 23 and a cylindrical passageway extending transversely of the proje ction 31. The pin 29 has a diameter slightly less than the diameters of the openings 28 so that the cover 32 may be pivotally moved about the pin 29. To hold the pin 29 against longitudinal movement, it is now preferred to form a small tapped opening in the edge face of the projection 31 into which is threaded a set screw 33 to engage the pin 29 in the passage of the projection 31. Where this type of pin mounting is used, the pin actually moves with the projection 31 as the cover is raised and lowered relative to the cover 153. It is obvious that other means could be used to mount'the pin 29 in operative relation with the webs 2'7 and the projection 31 of the cover.

It will now be seen that there are no exposed and unsightly hinge or pin means in the seat and cover arrangement of the present invention and all exterior surfaces of both the seat and cover may be coated with any desired finishing material of the same color and texture. The seat and cover arrangement thus presents a very pleasing and modern appearance. Further, as the hinge pin which pivotally mounts the seat to the bowl isalso the exhaust manifold, it is substantially concealed by the integral lug 19 of the seat member and the bracket elements 15 and 16. Thus the exhaust system interconnecting the seat member and the pump is unobtrusive and it does not detract from the appearance of the installation.

As in conventional toilet seats the undersurface of the seat member 18 carries a pair of small rubber or rubber-like bumper pads 34 which support the seat member above the rim of the toilet bowl and also prevent damage to the seat member and toilet bowl when the seat member is lowered onto the rim of the bowl. As the buffers 34 space the seat member from the rim, an annular opening is provided to allow air to pass under the seat and upwardly through the apertures 22 whenever the fan 25 is in operation. Although not shown, the installation would include an electric circuit for operating the fan 25 which would be preferably driven by an electric motor. This circuit would include an on-andoff switch would be mounted in some position convenient to the toilet bowl 10.

It will now be seen that the ventilation means of the present invention is one which can be mounted'to a conventional toilet bowl without in any way modifying the bowl. Further, because of the particular structure used for mounting the seat member and the dual purpose of this mounting means, most, if not all, of the installation difiiculties previously had, are eliminated by the invention.

Although the now preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described herein, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited thereto, for it is susceptible to changes in form and detail.

within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim: 7

1. In a ventilation means of the type described adapted to be substituted for the seat and cover assembly of a conventional toilet bowl, comprising: a one piece, hollow seat member having a plurality of apertures formed in the normally lower face thereof; a perforated tube; a hollow lug integrally projecting from the rear edge of said seat member, the interior of said lug communicating with the interior of said seat; said lug having aligned openings for receiving said tube; the defining edges of said openings forming bearing surfaces mounting said seat for pivotal movement about the longitudinal axis of said tube, the perforations of said tube forming ports communicating the interior of said tube with the interior of said hollow lug; a pair of brackets, each bracket including. an. annular element sleeving said tube at opposite sides of said lug and astudf threadediy mounted. in a tapped bore formed in each bracket and having the opposite end passed through the spaced openings of the bowl mounting said conventional seat and cover assembly thereto,v one of said brackets including means for closing the. one end of said tube,

said integral lug of the seat member completely spanning the space between said brackets thereby completely concealing said tube between the brackets; a laterally extending branch carried by the other end of said tube and adapted to be connected to a conduit leading to an exhaust fan to be mounted adjacent said toilet bowl, said studs being threaded against said tube to hold the same against rotation relative to said brackets whereby said tube may be fixed in a position of adjustment to dispose said branch in a preselected position relative to said fan.

2. In a ventilation means of the type described adapted to be substituted for the existing seat and cover assembly of a conventional toilet bowl, comprising: a one piece, hollow seat member to be substituted for said conventional seat and having a plurality of apertures formed in the normally lower face thereof; a tube having a plurality of apertures formed in the wall thereof; means integral with said seat member and forming a hollow barrel-like element communicating with the interior of said seat member, said element rotatably receiving said tube whereby said seat member is hingedly mounted to said tube with the interior thereof flowconnected through said hollow barrel-like element with the interior of said tube; means circumscribing said tube at opposite sides of said barrel-like element for mounting said tube to the toilet bowl, one of said mounting means including means for closing the one end of said tube; a laterally extending branch carried by the opposite end of said tube and adapted to be connected to a conduit leading to an exhaust fan; the means mounting said tube to said toilet bowl including means for fixing said tube against rotation after said tube has been rotatably adjusted to position said branch in a desired angular position relative to said toilet bowl to facilitate interconnection of said tube and said fan; a pair of spaced webs integrally formed with the body of said seat member and the hollow barrel-like element; a cover; and means for hingedly connecting said cover to said spaced web elements for pivotal movement about an axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said tube.

3. In a ventilation means of the type described adapted to be substituted for the seat and cover assembly of a conventional toilet bowl, comprising: a tube having relatively large spaced apart openings in the wall thereof; a one piece hollow seat member having a plurality of apertures formed in the normally lower face thereof, said seat member terminating at the rear edge thereof in an enlarged lug having an internal chamber communicating with the interior thereof, said lug having aligned openings at opposite sides thereof for passing said tube; the defining edges of said lug openings forming bearing surfaces supporting said lug on said tube thereby to mount said seat for pivotal movement about the longitudinal axis of said tube, the openings of said tube forming ports communicating the interior of said tube with the interior of said hollow lug; a pair of brackets, each bracket including an annular element sleeving said tube, and engaged with the opposite sides of said lug; a stud threadedly mounted in a tapped bore formed in each bracket and having the opposite end passed through the openings of the bowl mounting said conventional seat and cover assembly thereto for fixing said brackets to said bowl and for holding said lug against movement longitudinally of said tube, one of said brackets being cup-shaped to telescope over and close the one end of said tube; a laterally extending branch carried by the other end of said tube and adapted to be connected to a conduit leading to an exhaust fan to be mounted adjacent said toilet bowl, said studs being threaded against said tube to hold the same against axial movement and against rotation relative to said brackets whereby said tube may be fixed in a position of adjustment to dispose said branch in a preselected position relative to said fan; and means for anchoring the free ends of said studs to said bowl.

4. A ventilation means to replace the seat and cover assembly on a conventional toilet bowl, which bowl has conventional spaced apertures for use in mounting such an assembly, said ventilation means comprising:

a tube having a perforated portion to serve as a seat hinge element and a laterally extending portion at one end of said perforated portion and integral therewith for connection to a conduit leading to an exhaust fan to be mounted adjacent said toilet bowl; a pair of spaced brackets to encircle said perforated portion of the tube, each of said brackets having a radial threaded bore, one of said brackets being cup-shaped to telescope over and close the other end of said perforated portion of the tube; a pair of studs for mounting in said bowl apertures respectively to support said tube, said studs being threaded into said bracket bores respectively for tightening against said tube to releasably immobilize the tube relative to the brackets, whereby with said studs loosened in said bracket bores, the tube may be rotatably adjusted in the brackets to adjust the direction of said end portion of the tube; a hollow seat member having a plurality of apertures in the normally lower face thereof, said 1101 low seat member having a rearwardly extending lug portion with a transverse passage therethrough to sleeve said tube for rotation of the seat member thereon, said lug portion being dimensioned to completely span the space between said brackets thereby to conceal the tube between the brackets, said seat member having a pair of spaced projections on the normally upper side thereof positioned forward of said transverse passage; a cover; and means hingedly connecting said cover to said spaced projections for pivotal movement of the cover relative to the seat member about an axis forward from said tube and substantially parallel to the tube.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 988,273 Levenhagen et a1. Mar. 28, 1911 1,173,520 Hunter Feb. 29, 1916 1,794,635 Mills Mar. 3, 1931 2,032,257 Carmichael Feb. 25, 1936 2,122,687 Herrmann July 5, 1938 2,164,320 Groeniger July 4, 1939 2,279,870 Johnson et al Apr. 14, 1942 2,286,555 Long June 16, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS 415,416 Great Britain Aug. 17, 1934 

